MIT Technology Review - medical technologyhttp://www.technologyreview.com/tagged/medical-technology/
enThe Virtual Nurse Will See You Nowhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/425983/the-virtual-nurse-will-see-you-now/
<p>In the hectic world of a hospital, a computer-simulated nurse can be surprisingly comforting.</p><p>Researchers at Northeastern University have developed a virtual nurse and exercise coach that are surprisingly likable and effective—even if they’re not quite as affable as the medical hologram on <em>Star Trek</em>. In fact, patients who interacted with a virtual nurse named Elizabeth said they preferred the computer simulation to an actual doctor or nurse because they didn’t feel rushed or talked down to. </p>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0000digitalservices425983 at http://www.technologyreview.comA New Approach to Treating Rheumatoid Arthritishttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/423291/a-new-approach-to-treating-rheumatoid-arthritis/
<p>An engineered protein reduces arthritis symptoms in mice.</p><p>A new protein engineered to inhibit molecules that cause inflammation not only reduces symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in mice but also may have potential to reverse the disease’s course. Researchers hope the findings will point toward a new therapy for this crippling and difficult-to-treat disease, which occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s own joints. Even medications that are most successful in halting joint inflammation are effective in only about half of the patients who try them.</p>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0000digitalservices423291 at http://www.technologyreview.comThe Doctor Will Record Your Data Nowhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/419940/the-doctor-will-record-your-data-now/
<p>With the rules finally set for health IT stimulus money, now comes the long march to implementation.</p><p>Seventeen months after the U.S. stimulus law authorized billions to subsidize electronic health records (EHRs), 864 pages of <a href="http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/" target="_blank">rules</a> for how physicians and hospitals must show “meaningful use” of the technology are finally set. Now comes the hard part: implementing the technology in a country where, by one estimate, only 17 percent of doctors use EHRs at all.</p>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000digitalservices419940 at http://www.technologyreview.comSoftware Listens for Hints of Depressionhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/416131/software-listens-for-hints-of-depression/
<p>A large-scale trial will test whether software can identify depressed patients.</p><p>It’s a common complaint in any communication breakdown: “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it.” For professor Sandy Pentland and his group at MIT’s Media Lab, the tone and pitch of a person’s voice, the length and frequency of pauses and speed of speech can reveal much about his or her mood.</p>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000digitalservices416131 at http://www.technologyreview.comPortable DNA Purifier for Poor Countrieshttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/414298/portable-dna-purifier-for-poor-countries/
<p>A new handheld device isolates DNA from human fluid without the use of electrical power.</p><p>A standard bicycle pump is all that’s required to power a DNA purifying kit, designed by <a href="http://web.mac.com/catherineklapperich/Site/Home.html" target="_blank">Catherine Klapperich</a> and her students at Boston University. The thermos-size device, dubbed SNAP (System for Nucleic Acid Preparation), extracts genetic material from blood and other bodily fluids by pumping fluid through a polymer-lined straw designed to trap DNA. A user can then pop the straw out and mail it to the nearest lab, where the preserved DNA can be analyzed for suspicious bacteria, viruses, and genetic diseases.</p>Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000digitalservices414298 at http://www.technologyreview.com